May 25, 2009

Deccan Chargers emerge champions of 2009 DLF IPL

The Deccan Chargers made a phenomenal comeback after finishing last in the inaugural DLF Indian Premier League last year – from last to first!

At the 2009 DLF IPL final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg last night, the Deccan Chargers beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore by only six runs to emerge as deserving champions of the season.
The tense final was a fitting end to an exciting season and highly successful tournament in South Africa. Thousands of fans turned up at the cricket grounds to watch the series of 59 matches over five weeks and millions watched it on television.

Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist was thrilled with the victory. “Given what we went through last year, this is just a tremendous effort by the whole franchise, to turn it around,” he said.

Gilchrist was named player of the series for scoring 495 runs – including three half-centuries. He also hit 29 sixes, making him the lead boundary-clearer of the tournament.

In acknowledgement of the performance of their rivals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gilchrist said, “They felt the same disappointment as we did last season and they did extremely well to turn things around.

“They put up a real fight today and made for a great final,” he added.